The Pintail 93 
but to its wise and thoughtful provisions we can already trace the present 
increase of this beautiful duck in our islands. Fifteen years ago the species 
was scarcely known as a resident, though fairly numerous on the east and 
north coasts of England as a winter visitor. Now, however, especially in 
Scotland, it is rapidly increasing. 
The Pintail comes to Britain in September, its visits being very regular, 
but varying in the number of birds. Some years it is abundant on the east 
coast of England and the north-east of Scotland ; in others but few appear. 
On the west coast of England it is rare, but off the Sussex coast, near Rye, 
it is sometimes numerous, though seldom seen, owing to its remaining at sea 
most of the day. During some winters it is seen in flocks off the mouth of the 
Thames, and occurs regularly all up the east coast as far as Yorkshire. From 
this point northward until we reach the estuary of the Eden in Scotland, 
where there is always a flock or two, it is rare. In some seasons I have seen 
a good number in the Tay estuary, and it occurs up that river as far as 
Mugdrum Island. We do not again meet with it on the east coast of Scot- 
land until we reach the Moray Firth, where it is scarce ; but numbers pass 
over the Moray every night on their way to the Beauly Firth, where the 
feeding-grounds are perfectly suited to its habits. In the Cromarty the 
Pintail is rare ; but on the Dornoch it appears sometimes in large numbers on 
both sides of the firth. This, by the way, is the only ground where I have 
seen the Pintail so far neglect their usual caution as to feed by day. The 
Little Ferry in Sutherland may be placed as the regular northern limit of the 
species in our islands, for a few occur there every winter, resting by day 
amongst the Long-tailed Ducks out on the bay of Golspie. On the west 
coast of Scotland the bird is rare, as also in the Inner Hebrides, but in the 
Outer Hebrides, especially in North and South Uist, it is a rapidly increasing 
species. In the Orkneys and the Shetlands, too, it is only a casual straggler ; 
but I have little doubt that the day will soon come when it will nest in both 
these groups of islands. 
